We all know how ace the area is – but the pioneering organisers of the annual Leytonstone Festival, which dates back to the 1990s, were arguably more in-the-know still.
Fast forward a couple of decades and now in 2019, there are over 40 events at 20 venues over eight days, from music and performance to kids’ events, gigs and talks.
Sure, it started last weekend, but there are still four more days to savour. Running the whole week is the fascinating Alfred Hitchcock exhibition (open daily, free, see above pic) at the elegant Leytonstone Library, with film posters, publicity stills, local memorabilia and press cuttings, as well as contemporary oil paintings.
Highlights tonight (Thursday) include an immersive Blitz Escape Room at the Northcote Arms, from 6pm (also running all day on Sat), plus pop princess Lauren Azania and ratpack vocalist Dave Octave at newish trattoria Stone Pizzeria (from 730pm).
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Meanwhile, tomorrow there’s the ace-sounding Dial M For Music soiree at The Hitchcock pub overlooking Wanstead Flats (745pm, free), synthpop duo Transistor Brothers at Stone Pizzeria (930pm), and the Woodhouse Players’ new production, Visitors, at the Welsh Church Hall (8pm, also Sat 230pm and 8pm).
And elsewhere over the weekend expect soulful local duo Lakehouse Bell at the Plough & Harrow (Fri, 745pm, free), a ‘Brunch & Beats’ sesh during the day at Leytonstone Tavern (Sat, 10am), and even a Victorian Music Hall singalong (St Andrew’s Church, Sat, 4pm).
Sunday’s finale sees a guided walk exploring Leytonstone’s connections to slavery (2pm, free, St John’s Church), a jazz collective raising the roof at The Birds (8pm, free) and – rounding things off – the awesome LGBTQ-flavoured Drag Out The Weekend at the Northcote hosted by the inimitable Victoria Sponge (830pm, free).
In short, it’d be rude not to.
Main image: Hitchcock Exhibition, Leytonstone Library. Photo: Stephen Emms
